ICE Nabs Colombian Gang Leader Who Was Caught, Released by Border Agents Back Into US

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that they captured a validated Colombian gang leader wanted for homicide, aggravated theft, and arms trafficking in his home country who was illegally in the U.S.

ICE said the Colombian fugitive is a validated leader of the Las Colinas criminal organization based in Santa Marta, Colombia.

The 29-year-old was caught by Border Patrol in September 2023, after illegally crossing into the U.S. near San Ysidro, California. He was served with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.

He was then transferred to Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) San Diego. Inexplicably, the gang leader was then served an order of release on recognizance and released from custody, ICE said.

He was allowed to roam freely in the U.S. for nearly a year before ERO Baltimore arrested him in Maryland last week.

“This Colombian fugitive is wanted by authorities in his home country for allegedly committing some violent crimes,” said ERO Baltimore acting Deputy Field Office Director Vernon Liggins. “He attempted to hide from justice in Maryland, and we simply cannot allow that to happen. Our officers are the best in the world at finding people who don’t want to be found, and we will not allow our Maryland communities to become safe havens for the world’s bad actors. ERO Baltimore will continue to prioritize public safety by apprehending egregious noncitizen offenders.”

His arrest comes as significant issues with vetting at the southern border, and problems within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a whole continue to plague the organization.

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